The Witch of Wales: The Tale of Gwen ferch Ellis

🌕 The first Welsh woman accused of witchcraft — and the lingering echoes of her story

On an October night in 1594, under the silvery shimmer of a Welsh moon, whispers curled through the cobbled streets of Denbigh. They spoke of a woman named Gwen ferch Ellis — healer, spinner, and, some claimed, witch. Hers is not a story of broomsticks or bubbling cauldrons, but of herbs, charms, and a heart too bold for the times she lived in.

🧶 A Weaver of Healing and Hope

Born around 1552 in the gentle hills of Llandyrnog, Gwen lived in a world where faith and folklore danced together in every hearth’s glow. The daughter of Ellis — her name, ferch Ellis, meaning “daughter of Ellis” — she was known not for darkness, but for the light she brought to her neighbours.

With nimble fingers and an old soul, Gwen spun not only cloth but cures. She made salves for aching bones, plasters for wounds, and charms whispered softly over herbs gathered at dawn. Villagers traded her wool and butter for her blessings — small exchanges in a land where belief was as old as the mountains.

But every charm carries two edges, and in Gwen’s world, kindness could turn to danger very quickly.

✒️ The Paper Charm and the Shadow of Suspicion

One day, a curious paper charm appeared in the home of Thomas Mostyn, a powerful landowner. It was written backward — a trick of protection, Gwen might have said — but to others, it was a sign of ill will. Fear spread like wildfire.

Rumors tied Gwen to Jane Conway, a spirited widow at odds with Mostyn. Soon, whispers became accusations, and Gwen’s name was carried on the wind as that of a witch. In a world trembling between old faith and new order, such rumors burned bright.

⚖️ The Trial of the Healer

When Gwen was brought before the court in Denbigh, the gentry, clergy, and neighbours gathered, some in fear, others in pity. Seven witnesses stood against her, claiming her charms had broken bones, bewitched ale, and even stilled a young man’s heart.

And yet, Gwen stood proud — her voice clear, her heart steady. She recited her charms in Welsh, explaining they were meant for healing, not harm. Her courage was a quiet kind of magic — one that no gallows could silence.

But the law was not kind to women who wielded knowledge wrapped in mystery. Under the Witchcraft Act of 1563, Gwen was found guilty and was the first woman hanged in Denbigh town square where laughter and markets once filled the air. She was only 42 and in her short life had already lost two husbands and a sister.

🕯️ The Spirit That Lingers

Centuries have passed, yet the story of Gwen ferch Ellis still drifts through the valleys of Wales like autumn mist. She remains a symbol not of fear, but of strength — a reminder of the women whose wisdom was mistaken for wickedness.

In truth, Gwen’s greatest spell was compassion. Her “witchcraft” was nothing more than healing, her “charms” the old songs of her ancestors.

So when the October moon rises high this Halloween, listen for the rustle of leaves and the hum of the spinning wheel. Somewhere you might feel echoes of Gwen’s wronged spirit.

During the age of the witch trials it is estimated around 4,000 souls were sent to their death in Scotland and 1,000 in England, but curiously only five were killed in Wales with Gwen being one of them. We can only speculate to the reason. Could this be because of the Welsh Language?

In his book – Witches and Witch Hunts Through the Ages author Phil Carradice offers a number of explanations. He believes it is at least in part down to the Welsh language.”Very few examiners or judges spoke Welsh,” said Phil, from the Vale of Glamorgan. He also believes it could be explained by many of Wales’ small, rural communities being so reliant on local wise women. “There were no doctors, no hospitals… if you wanted help for yourself or your animals they would turn to wise women.”

(From a BBC article by Nicola Bryan )

If you want to visit Denbigh you can download the town trail here, it is a town steeped in history.

You can listen to a Welsh podcast Lleisiau Cymru on BBC sounds to hear more about Gwen here.